Gilgamesh, Tablet VII. Study questions

1. The opening lines are a sort of scene in heaven between the gods. What are the issues? The rest of the section is the outcome.
2. Why do the gods condemn Enkidu and not Gilgamesh to death?
3. In one line, we learn of Enkidu's fate: "Enkidu was lying sick in front of Gilgamesh." What follows is the story of death and dying and then the journey through grief. One of the "stages" people go through when confronting their mortality is anger. At what does Enkidu express his anger. Why?
4. What does Gilgamesh's reply tell us about Enkidu's state of mind?
5. Enkidu's anger cries out to Shamash, the sun god and then also vents itself on those who led him to this civilized life. What does he have to say for the trapper and for the harlot, Shamhat?
6. Why does he end up blessing them?
7. Enkidu dreams about the world of the dead. According to his dream, what is death like?
8. What comfort does Shamash (sun god) offer? How does Enkidu respond?
9. What picture of death does this culture have as expressed by the dying Enkidu?
10. What realities about death does this epic confront the reader with? What comforts can there be?